Government of Canada takes next step to defend Canadians by delivering mission-critical capability to the Royal Canadian Air Force

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 25, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Government of Canada is defending Canadians by strengthening the country's defence capabilities, enhancing interoperability with allies, and supporting economic opportunities for Canadian industry. Today, the government announced that Canada and Saab entered into a non-binding term sheet agreement that establishes the scope and foundation for detailed negotiations toward the potential acquisition of Saab's GlobalEye platform.

On May 27, 2026, the Prime Minister announced that Saab was identified as the preferred supplier for an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) capability. Once procured, this capability will defend Canadians and enhance Canada's security by detecting and deterring threats across the Arctic and beyond. Through resilient and reliable partnerships with our European allies, Canada will ensure that the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is equipped to defend Canadian sovereignty by meeting evolving threats, while creating good jobs and delivering value for Canadians.

While the agreement does not constitute a contract or commitment to procure aircraft, it represents concrete progress toward the acquisition of the GlobalEye platform. It establishes the foundation for detailed negotiations on a Canadian configuration and development program designed to meet Canada's requirements, including industrial participation and schedule, reflecting months of collaboration and negotiations among Saab, the Defence Investment Agency, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The agreement also advances the objectives of Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) by balancing defence capability, economic benefits, and industrial development.

With these negotiations, Canada intends to acquire six GlobalEye aircraft with associated systems and training. The GlobalEye platform would provide the RCAF with an advanced airborne surveillance, command and control capability that can detect, track and prioritize threats at long range, including aircraft, missiles and drones. Operating as an airborne command and control centre, the capability would significantly enhance situational awareness, strengthen Canada's contributions to NORAD modernization and continental defence, and improve operational reach in the Arctic and other remote regions. 

The Government of Canada is modernizing defence procurement by establishing the Defence Investment Agency (DIA) and streamlining decision-making, engaging industry earlier, and aligning efforts with key partners. The project also aligns with the DIS and the new "Build-Partner-Buy" framework, which prioritizes the procurement of proven, off-the-shelf solutions from trusted allies.

Through this project, Canada is strengthening its defence capabilities, enhancing interoperability with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries and allied partners, and supporting economic opportunities for Canadian industry. A key objective of this project is to establish Canada as a centre for future missionization and support activities, building on the Canadian-manufactured Bombardier Global 6500 platform. This approach would create opportunities for highly skilled employment, technology integration, Canadian supply chain participation, and future exports of the Canadian-built GlobalEye aircraft to international customers.

Quotes

"Canada's approach to defence procurement must deliver more than military equipment. It must defend Canadians while strengthening our economy, growing Canadian industrial capacity, and opening new opportunities for Canadian companies to compete globally. The term sheet agreement reflects the principles of the DIS by pursuing partnerships that support Canadian jobs, innovation, and long-term economic growth while ensuring we acquire capabilities from trusted partners when they are needed".

The Honourable Stephen Fuhr
Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)

"Entering into this agreement is an important and tangible step forward in our ongoing efforts to equip the Royal Canadian Air Force with the modern capabilities it needs to support operations. By engaging early with industry we can tap into their expertise, innovation, and experience, while supporting key pillars of the Defence Industrial Strategy. Together, we are advancing a capability that will strengthen our security and deliver value for Canadians."

The Honourable David J. McGuinty 
Minister of National Defence

"An Airborne Early Warning and Control capability will significantly strengthen Canada's ability to detect, track, and respond to threats to our territory and approaches. Beyond the capability itself, AEWC is about building the future Air and Space Force that Canada requires in an increasingly complex security environment. It will be a key enabler of integration across our modernized force, connecting platforms, sensors, and decision-makers to provide a more complete operational picture and improve our ability to act with speed and confidence. We value the collaborative work underway with Saab as we continue to examine solutions to help meet Canada's evolving defence needs and support the future readiness of the RCAF."

Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet
Commander, Royal Canadian Air Force

Quick facts

• Saab is a globally recognized provider of advanced Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEWC) capabilities, with more than 35 years of experience delivering AEWC systems to their customers around the world. Through multiple generations of operators, Saab has built a proven track record in enhancing situational awareness, early warning and decision superiority.
• GlobalEye is an advanced AEWC solution with an array of active and passive sensors that provide long-range detection and identification of objects in different domains. By providing real-time information to military commanders, GlobalEye enhances situational awareness and enables the early detection of potential threats. Built on the Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft, a Canadian-manufactured platform known for its long range, high endurance and reliable performance in a wide range of operating conditions, GlobalEye combines advanced sensors with sophisticated mission systems. The result is a highly capable, cost-effective and domestically supportable solution for modern defence forces.
• Saab's potential collaboration with Bombardier would support Canada's defence and industrial objectives by strengthening domestic production, creating skilled jobs, enabling participation in global supply chains, and advancing priorities such as interoperability, continental defence, and enhanced monitoring of Canadian airspace, including in the Arctic. 
• The Government is working with Saab to maximize economic benefits for Canada through the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, including opportunities related to missionization, in-service support, training, research and development investments, Canadian supplier participation, and future exports of Canadian-built GlobalEye aircraft.
• Many allied organizations and nations have selected Saab's GlobalEye or are intending to do so, including NATO, Sweden, France, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

Associated links

• Airborne Early Warning & Control
• The Government of Canada selects preferred supplier for Airborne Early Warning and Control discussions
• Prime Minister Carney launches new Defence Investment Agency to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces faster
• Defence Investment Agency
• Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy
• Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy

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SOURCE Defence Investment Agency

Contacts: Sofiya Sapeha, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, [email protected]; Media Relations, Defence Investment Agency, [email protected]